About Candace Vessella
Candace Vessella is a retired business executive and military veteran. She achieved her dream to become a full time resident of Lewes during the summer of 2009. A part-time resident and property owner since 1995, her love of Lewes made this the only place she considered as a potential retirement home.
In June of 2009, she retired from her job as the Vice President of Government
Affairs, BAE Systems Inc. In that position, she was responsible for coordination of all business interaction with the US Congress; domestic and international congressional policy strategy development, lobbying execution as well as managing all congressional compliance requirements for the corporation.
Prior to joining BAE Systems Inc. in 2003, she spent 14 years with Lockheed Martin Corporation, filling increasingly responsible positions, representing programs associated with the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA and the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Before joining Lockheed Martin in 1989, she served 10 years as a civilian employee with the U.S. Department of Defense, ending her tenure there as Senior Senate Liaison for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Washington, D.C.
While pursuing her civilian career, she had a parallel career in the U.S. Navy Reserve
for over 25 years. This military career culminated in achieving the rank of Captain with a final assignment as the Commanding Officer of Reserve Intelligence Area -19, Navy Reserve Intelligence Command. In this assignment she managed over 850 naval personnel in the Washington, DC, area. She retired from the US Navy Reserve in 2008.
Since retiring in Lewes, Candace has focused her time volunteering in city related activities and at the Lewes Public Library.
LEWES PUBLIC LIBRARY: She volunteers at the Lewes Public Library and serves as the Board President of the Friends of the Lewes Public Library.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS: She was elected to the Lewes Board of Public Works (BPW) on May 14, 2011. Subsequent to her election, she was elected the Vice President of the Board and the Board Member responsible for administration issues at the BPW and served on the BPW Board until May 2013.
LEWES PLANNING COMMISSION: While serving on the BPW Board, she served on the Lewes Planning Commission from May 2011 to May 2013.
LEWES BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS: On June 10, 2013 she was appointed to the Lewes Board of Adjustments by the Mayor of Lewes. She was re-appointed by the Mayor and City Council to the Lewes Board of Adjustment and she served nearly nine years. In her final year on the Board, she became the Chairwoman of the Board of Adjustment and served in this capacity until her appointment to the Lewes City Council on May 23, 2022.
LEWES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: In January 2018 she was appointed as a Commissioner on the City of Lewes Parks and recreation Commission responsible for Stango Park. She served in this capacity until her appointment to the Lewes City Council on May 23, 2022.
LEWES CITY COUNCIL: On May 23, 2022, the Lewes City Council voted unanimously to appoint her to become a Councilwoman to fill the one-year vacancy created by the election of Andrew Williams as Mayor.
SUSSEX COUNTY LIBRARY ADVISRORY BOARD: Appointed by the Sussex County Council on May 24, 2022 to represent Sussex County Council Library District 3; her three-year term expires on June 30, 2026.
She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and received a master’s degree in International Relations and African Studies from The American University. She has also attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and Templeton College - Oxford, Oxford University, for executive training in strategic planning.
Read the Saltwater Portrait from the April 10th, 2012 Cape Gazette Newspaper:
http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/capelife/story/candace-vessella-starts-next-chapter-of-life-in-lewes/804518
(CAPT Candace Vessella, USNR (Ret) is a retired veteran of the United States Navy Reserve. Use of her military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.)